Method and apparatus for teaching the throwing of a curveball without injury

ABSTRACT

Training devices of the present disclosure may be mounted to a user&#39;s hand, wrist and/or forearm, and be used to prevent or substantially restrict motion of the hand or wrist in one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may include planar elements that may be joined with a linkage that permits the movement or rotation of the hand and/or wrist within the one or more defined degrees or ranges. The devices may further be strapped, attached or otherwise mounted to a user&#39;s hand, wrist and/or forearm using one or more straps or like features. In a preferred embodiment, the training device may be worn by a baseball pitcher, and used to physically guide the pitcher through the proper motion for throwing a curveball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to provisional U.S.Patent Application No. 61/604,154, filed Feb. 28, 2012, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providingappropriate training instructions in athletic activities. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods forteaching the throwing of an object in specified manner, such as thethrowing of a baseball in order to achieve a breaking movement of thebaseball, and reducing the risk of injury thereby.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the sport of baseball, the throwing of a breaking ball, such as acurveball, by a baseball pitcher provides a strategic advantage in thatthe thrown ball breaks or moves in an unpredictable manner as itapproaches a hitter. When a curveball is properly thrown, the pitcher'sfingers are positioned atop the ball, and the pitcher's wrist issubstantially collinear with the user's forearm, until the releasepoint. In order to cause a desired rotation to the ball, the pitcherwill snap his or her arm and wrist downward at the release point andimpart a tumbling, topspin onto the ball, which will cause the ball todrop and/or curve as it approaches a hitter, depending on the extent ofthe rotation imparted upon the ball and other environmental factors.Thus, the proper form for throwing a curveball causes a flexion acrossthe radial collateral ligament (RCL) to the ulnar collateral ligament(UCL) of the elbow joint.

When a curveball is improperly thrown, however, a pitcher's fingers maybe positioned on the side of the ball, and the pitcher's wrist may becocked backward and/or supinated at the release point. While supinatingthe wrist can create the desired rotational motion on the ball, thesupination can also cause stresses to the ulnar collateral ligament. Thethrowing of a curveball with improper form risks injury to the elbow,wrist, or elsewhere throughout the pitcher's arm.

It is an object of the present disclosure to overcome one or more of thedrawbacks and/or disadvantages of the prior art described above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure are intended toreduce the risk of injury to throwers of curveballs, particularly inyounger baseball players, who may be learning to throw curveballs forthe first time. Some apparatuses of the present disclosure restrict orprevent the supination of the wrist, and force a pitcher to keep his orher wrist straight while throwing a curveball, with his or her fingersatop the ball, at the release point. By restricting the hinging and/orrotation of the wrist, the apparatuses of the present disclosure maytherefore ensure that the flexion extends across the radial collateralligament to the ulnar collateral ligament, and reduces the risk ofinjury thereby.

The bones, ligaments and muscles of the human wrist and forearm may bemanipulated or moved within three primary ranges of motion. First, awrist may be cocked from side to side in a waving manner, i.e., betweena radial deviation of the wrist, such that the thumb of the relevanthand moves closer to the forearm, and an ulnar deviation of the wrist,such that the thumb of the relevant hand moves away from the forearm.Second, a wrist may be hinged forward and backward, i.e., between apalmar flexion of the wrist, or a forward hinging, and a dorsiflexion ofthe wrist, or a backward hinging. Third, the bones of the forearm mayrotate or twist, thereby causing a pronation of the wrist, i.e., aclockwise rotation of the left forearm or a counterclockwise rotation ofthe right forearm, or a supination of the wrist, i.e., acounterclockwise rotation of the left forearm or a clockwise rotation ofthe right forearm.

The present disclosure is directed to methods or apparatuses forrestricting the movement of the wrist or forearm to one or more of thedegrees of movement thereof. For example, in a preferred embodiment, oneapparatus of the present disclosure may permit a wrist to cock within arange between a radial deviation and an ulnar deviation, but maysubstantially restrict or prevent the wrist from hinging forward orbackward, or substantially restrict or prevent the bones of the forearmfrom rotating the wrist in one or more directions of rotation.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus isworn on a user's arm in such a manner that the apparatus limits theextent of hinging and/or rotation of the user's wrist, such as within asingle plane. The apparatus may comprise at least two structural piecesthat are mounted to one another by a rotatable linkage, such as a rivet,that enables the structural pieces to rotate with respect to oneanother. One of the structural pieces may be fixed to a back side, orposterior, of a user's hand (the “hand piece”), while another of thestructural pieces may be fixed to a back side, or posterior, of theuser's forearm (the “forearm section”), using straps or other knownfixing means.

In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus according to the presentdisclosure includes two structural pieces, with each of the structuralpieces including a mounting section or extension and a linking sectionor extension. In such embodiments, the mounting section may includestraps or other features for mounting the apparatus to the user, and thelinking section may be used to join with a linking section of anotherstructural piece to form a rotatable linkage. For example, one apparatusaccording to the present disclosure may include a hand piece and aforearm section joined to one another with a rivet to form a rotatable,substantially planar connection, and both the hand piece and the forearmsection may include straps for fixing the respective pieces to a handand forearm, respectively, of a user, such as a baseball pitcher. Wheresuch an apparatus is worn during the throwing of a baseball, rotation ispermitted within the plane defined by the planar connection, i.e.,between a radial deviation of the wrist and an ulnar deviation of thewrist.

According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the handpiece and the forearm section may be of any suitable shape or form. Forexample, the hand piece and the forearm section may be substantiallyflat, substantially or partially arcuate, or custom-shaped to conform tothe wrist or the forearm of a particular user. Additionally, the handpiece and the forearm section may have holes or other features forreceiving fixing means, such as straps or other like features. The handpiece and the forearm section may be joined by any form of linkage thatprevents or restricts motion in one or more degrees, such as a rotatablelinkage that permits rotation to about a point and within a single planebut prevents motion or rotation in other directions or planes. Otherforms of linkages, including rotatable and translatable linkages, mayalso be used in accordance with the present disclosure.

When an apparatus according to the present disclosure is worn on auser's hand and forearm, the apparatus may restrict the extent or degreeto which a wrist may hinge or otherwise rotate. In a currently preferredembodiment, the rotatable linkage within the planar connection betweenthe two structural pieces limits the rotation of the user's wrist to asingle plane with respect to the user's forearm. In another preferredembodiment, the rotatable linkage includes a low-friction separator,such as a washer, between the two structural pieces within the planarconnection. The washer may be formed of nylon or any other type ofmaterial that provides a low-friction surface between the two structuralpieces at the rotatable linkage, and permits the structural pieces torotate with respect to one another in a low-friction environment.

In another preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, a user's handmay be strapped to the mounting section of the hand piece, and isaligned substantially co-planar or parallel to a plane of the forearmsection, such that the user's wrist may not supinate or hinge forward orbackward during the act of throwing. In another embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the apparatus may permit limited movement within oneor more restricted degrees or ranges of motion. For example, a plane ofthe mounting section of the hand piece may be angled in the direction ofthe posterior of the hand, i.e., hinged backward, by up to about fourdegrees, by forming an angle between the mounting section of the handpiece and the linking section of the hand piece.

The apparatuses of the present disclosure may be worn and utilized by apitcher independent of the pitcher's arm angle or release point duringthe act of throwing a curveball. For example, one apparatus of thepresent disclosure may be worn and utilized by a pitcher who throws“sidearm,” “over the top,” or with a three-quarters delivery (e.g.,either high or low). An apparatus of the present disclosure may preventa pitcher's wrist from supinating to an undesired degree and may forcethe pitcher to throw a curveball with proper form, thus restricting theextent of hinging or rotation of the pitcher's wrist while maintaininghis or her fingers atop the ball, regardless of the pitcher's arm angle.

Accordingly, the methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure maybe utilized as training tools for pitchers, particularly youngerpitchers, who wish to learn to throw curveballs with proper form andwith a reduced risk of injury.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1A is a front view of a training device according to one embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a cross-section view of the training device of FIG. 1A takenalong the section line A-A of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a front view of a component of a training device according toone embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a cross-section view of the component of FIG. 2A taken alongthe section line B-B of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a component of a training device according toone embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a cross-section view of the component of FIG. 3A taken alongthe section line C-C of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a view of one embodiment of a training device according tothe present disclosure, wherein the training device is worn on a lefthand of a user thereof.

FIG. 4B is a view of one embodiment of a training device according tothe present disclosure, wherein the training device is worn on a righthand of a user thereof.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a training device according to one embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a cross-section view of the training device of FIG. 5A takenalong the section line D-D of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, one training device 10 according to thepresent disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 1A, the training device10 includes a hand piece 12 and a forearm section 14 joined by arotational linkage 20 (e.g., a rivet). The hand piece 12 includes alinking extension 13 for joining the hand piece 12 to the forearmsection 14, and a hand strap 32 for mounting the hand piece 12 to anupper portion of a user's hand, i.e., substantially about the metacarpalbones of the hand. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shown inFIG. 1A, the hand strap 32 of the hand piece 12 is formed of two parts(e.g., strips or bands) such that one end of each part is fixed to thehand piece 12 through an eyelet 16, and another end of each part may bejoined together when mounting the hand piece 12 to a user.

The forearm section 14 includes a linking extension 15 for joining theforearm section 14 to the hand piece 12, as well as a hand strap 32 anda forearm strap 30 for mounting the forearm section 14 to a user'sforearm and/or wrist. The hand strap 32 of the forearm section 14 may beused to mount the forearm section 14 to a lower portion of a user's handand/or wrist. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shown in FIG.1A, the hand strap 32 of the forearm section 14 is formed of two parts(e.g., strips or bands), such that one end of each part is fixed to theforearm section 14 through an eyelet 16, and another end of each partmay be joined together when mounting the forearm section 14 to a user.

The forearm strap 30 may be used to mount the forearm section 14 to anupper portion of the user's forearm, i.e., substantially about theradius and ulna bones. In the embodiment of the training device 10 shownin FIG. 1A, the forearm strap 30 is formed of two parts (e.g., strips orbands) such that one end of each part is fixed to an edge of the forearmsection 14, and another end of each part may be joined together whenmounting the forearm section 14 to a user. Additionally, the forearmsection 14 also includes one or more rounded stubs 18, which may act asa barrier to the forearm strap 30 about the forearm section 14, and mayrestrict the forearm strap 30 from sliding beyond an end of the forearmsection 14.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a cross-section view of the training device ofFIG. 1A taken along the section line A-A is shown. As is shown in FIG.1B, the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 are formed in planesthat are substantially parallel to one another. The linking extensions13, 15 and the rotational linkage 20 of the training device 10 of FIGS.1A and 1B form a planar connection that permits the hand piece 12 andthe forearm section 14 to rotate with respect to one another within acommon plane defined by the linking extensions 13, 15. Additionally, therotational linkage 20 is shown as passing through a hole 26 in thelinking extension 15 of the forearm section 14 and a hole 28 in thelinking extension 13 of the hand piece 12, such that the hole 26 and thehole 28 are substantially coaligned about an axis.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, views of the forearm section 14 of thetraining device 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B are shown. Referring to FIG. 2A,the linking extension 15 of the forearm section 14 has a substantiallyoctagonal shape and includes the eyelets 16 and the hole 26.Additionally, at the end of the forearm section 14 opposite the linkingextension 15, rounded stubs 18 are provided to act as a barrier forrestricting a forearm strap 30 about the forearm section 14. Referringto FIG. 2B, a cross-section view of the forearm section 14 of FIG. 2Ataken along the section line B-B is shown as including the hole 26 atthe extension 15.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, views of the hand piece 12 of the trainingdevice 10 of FIGS. 1A and 1B are shown. The linking extension 13 of thehand piece 12 has a substantially tapered shape and includes the eyelets16 and the hole 28.

The hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be formed from anyappropriate material that is sufficiently rigid and durable to withstandthe rigors of the arm motions required for throwing of a curveball,which may reach velocities of up to one hundred miles per hour (100 mph)or more, yet light enough to avoid unnaturally disrupting a weightbalance of a ball within a pitcher's hand. Preferred materials forforming the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may include steel(e.g., hot-rolled or cold-rolled) or alloys including steel, wood,aluminum, plastics and/or composite materials (e.g., wood-plasticcomposites, metal-plastic composites, composites of multiple types ofplastics). Additionally, a washer 22 or other form of low-frictionseparator may be positioned between the linking extension 13 of the handpiece 12 and the linking extension 15 of the forearm section 14, andanother washer 24 or other form of low-friction separator may bepositioned between an end of the rotational linkage 20 and the handpiece 12, to alleviate some or all of the effects of friction that maybe generated as the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 rotate withrespect to one another. By reducing the friction between the rotatingelements, the throwing of a curveball by a user who is wearing thetraining device 10 more closely simulates the actual throwing of acurveball without the device. Preferred materials for the low-frictionseparators may include nylon, vinyl, polymers or steels.

The components of the training device 10 of FIGS. 1A-1B, 2A-2B and 3A-3Bmay have any suitable dimensions, which may be provided generally formultiple users or tailored to the measurements or particular features ofa specific user. For example, according to one embodiment, the handpiece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be approximately one-eighth ofan inch (⅛″) thick, and have lengths of approximately five inches to sixinches (5″-6″). The hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may furtherhave widths of approximately one and three-quarters inches to two andone-half inches (1.75″-2.50″), as well. The holes 26, 28 may have anydimension that may sufficiently accommodate a rotational linkage 20therein, such as a diameter of approximately one-quarter inch (0.25″).Likewise, the linking extensions 13, 15 of the hand piece 12 and theforearm section 14 may further have any shapes or dimensions, and arenot limited to the tapered shape of the linking extension 13 shown inFIGS. 1A and 3A or the substantially octagonal shape of the linkingextension shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A.

Moreover, the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14 may be mounted toa user in any manner and using any materials, including but not limitedto the forearm strap 30 or the hand strap 32 shown in FIGS. 1A-1 B,2A-2B and 3A-3B. Such mounting apparatuses may take the form of sleeves,gloves or any other like features for mounting the training device 10 toa user's hand, wrist and/or forearm, and may be formed from solid ormeshed materials having appropriate levels of flexibility anddurability. Some mounting features of the present disclosure may includestraps or sleeves formed or stitched from Velcro fabrics, or featuringfingerless or palmless gloves, belts or buckles, adhesive tapes orglues, or any other like features that may be utilized to mount one ormore of the elements of the training device 10 to a user but will notsubstantially impair the throwing of a baseball by a user who is wearinga training device 10 of the present disclosure.

The rotational linkages 20 that join the hand piece 12 to the forearmsection 14 may take any form, as well. Preferably, the rotationallinkage 20 may be a rivet having a stub head and an upset head. However,any form of linkage may be utilized in accordance with the presentdisclosure, including nuts and bolts, screws or shafts that will notsubstantially impair the throwing of a baseball by a user who is wearinga training device 10 of the present disclosure. Moreover, such linkagesmay permit rotation of the hand piece 12 and the forearm section 14about a single point or axis, such as the rotational linkage 20 of FIGS.1A and 1B, or may permit other forms of relative movement between thehand piece 12 and the forearm section 14, such as sliding or translatingwithin a channel, or a combination of rotation and translation, inaccordance with the present disclosure. Thus, while the training device10 substantially restricts motion of a wrist to rotation within a planeand about an axis defined by the planar connection of the linkingextension 13 and the linking extension 15, any form of linkage orconnection that permits rotation or motion in any degree or range may beutilized in accordance with the systems and methods of the presentdisclosure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be worn on either arm ofa user. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, one training device 10 of thepresent disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 4A, the training device10 is shown as mounted to a left hand 1A, a left forearm 2A and a leftwrist 3A of a user. The hand strap 32 of the hand piece 12 is shown asmounted substantially about the metacarpal bones of the left hand 1A,between distal fingers 5A and a thumb 6A of the left hand 1A. The handstrap 32 of the forearm section 14 is shown as mounted substantiallyabout the junctions of the pisiform, triquetrum, lunate and scaphoidbones of the left hand 1A and the left wrist 1A. The forearm strap 30 ofthe forearm section 14 is shown as mounted substantially about theradius and ulna of the left forearm 2A. Referring to FIG. 4B, thetraining device 10 is shown as mounted to a right hand 1B, a rightforearm 2B and a right wrist 3B of the user in a similar manner.

Accordingly, as is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the training device 10 maypermit the hands 1A, 1B and/or wrists 3A, 3B to rotate within a planedefined by the connection between the linking extension 13 and thelinking extension 15, i.e., between a radial deviation of the wrists 3A,3B, such that the thumbs 6A, 6B of the hands 1A, 1B move closer to theforearms 2A, 2B, and an ulnar deviation of the wrists 3A, 3B, such thatthe thumbs 6A, 6B of the hands 1A, 1B move away from the forearms 2A,2B, within a plane that is coplanar or substantially parallel to theplane defined by the connection between the linking extension 13 and thelinking extension 15. The training device 10 may be worn and used by aleft-handed pitcher or a right-handed pitcher, as necessary.

The training devices of the present disclosure may further define one ormore planes in which a hand and wrist may rotate by defining one or moreangles of a connection between the respective linking sections, orbetween a mounting section and a corresponding linking section.Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, one training device 10 according to thepresent disclosure is shown. Referring to FIG. 5B, the hand piece 12defines an angle a with respect to the linking extension 13. Thus, wherethe training device 10 of FIGS. 5A and 5B is worn by a user, the linkingextension 13 and the linking extension 15 may rotate within a planedefined by the planar connection between the extensions 13, 15, whileallowing a user's hand to rotate within a plane defined by the angle awith respect to the linking extension 13.

It should be understood that, unless otherwise explicitly or implicitlyindicated herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives ormodifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein mayalso be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodimentdescribed herein. Also, it should also be understood that theaccompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

For example, any form of strap or mounting features may be used toattach or mount a training device of the present disclosure to a user'sbody. Additionally, the straps or mounting features may be joined orfixed to one or more components of the training device by any means.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainembodiments could include, but do not require, certain features,elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generallyintended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any wayrequired for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodimentsnecessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input orprompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included orare to be performed in any particular embodiment.

As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent artbased on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may bemade to the above-described and other embodiments of the presentdisclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedin the claims. Accordingly, this detailed description of currentlypreferred embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to alimiting sense.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various otheradditions and omissions may be made therein and thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for teaching throwing a curveballwithout injury comprising: a hand piece; a hand strap adapted formounting the hand piece to a posterior of a human hand; a forearmsection; a forearm strap adapted for mounting the forearm section to aposterior of a human forearm; a rotatable connection between the handpiece and the forearm section, wherein the rotatable connection definesan axis, and wherein the rotatable connection permits a relativerotation between the hand piece and the forearm section about the axis.2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable connection comprises arivet defining the axis, wherein the rivet extends through a hole in thehand piece, a hole in the forearm section and a hole of a low-frictionseparator.
 3. An athletic training device comprising: a first elementcomprising a first linking extension and a first strap for mounting thefirst element to a hand of a human; a second element comprising a secondlinking extension and a second strap for mounting the second element toa portion of a forearm of the human; and a rotational linkage defining aplanar connection between the first linking extension and the secondlinking extension, wherein the first element and the second element areadapted to rotate with respect to one another about an axis defined bythe rotational linkage.
 4. The athletic training device of claim 3,wherein the athletic training device is adapted to substantially permitmotion of the hand of the human within a range defined by a radialdeviation of a wrist of the arm of the human and an ulnar deviation ofthe wrist of the arm of the human.
 5. The athletic training device ofclaim 4, wherein the athletic training device is adapted tosubstantially restrict motion of the hand of the human to the rangedefined by the radial deviation and the ulnar deviation.
 6. The athletictraining device of claim 4, wherein the athletic training device isadapted to substantially prevent at least one of a supination of thewrist or a pronation of the wrist.
 7. The athletic training device ofclaim 4, wherein the athletic training device is adapted tosubstantially prevent the hand of the human from rotating about an axisdefined by the forearm of the human.
 8. The athletic training device ofclaim 3, wherein the first strap comprises at least one strip formounting the first element about the hand.
 9. The athletic trainingdevice of claim 3, wherein the second strap comprises at least one stripfor mounting the second element about the forearm.
 10. The athletictraining device of claim 3, wherein the second element further comprisesa third strap for mounting the second element about at least one of thehand of the human or a wrist of the human.
 11. The athletic trainingdevice of claim 3, wherein the first strap comprises two parts, whereineach of the parts has a first end connected to the first element and asecond free end, and wherein the first element is adapted for mountingto the hand by connecting the second free ends of the two parts aroundthe hand.
 12. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein therotational linkage comprises a rivet extending between a first hole ofthe first linking extension and a second hole in the second linkingextension, and wherein the first hole and the second hole aresubstantially coaligned about the axis.
 13. The athletic training deviceof claim 3, wherein at least one of the first element or the secondelement is formed of a metal.
 14. The athletic training device of claim3, wherein at least one of the first element or the second element isformed of a composite material.
 15. The athletic training device ofclaim 3, wherein the first element lies substantially within a firstplane, wherein the second element lies substantially within a secondplane, and wherein the first plane and the second plane aresubstantially parallel to one another.
 16. The athletic training deviceof claim 3, wherein the first element further comprises a first mountingextension, and wherein the first mounting extension defines a non-zeroangle with respect to the first linking extension.
 17. The athletictraining device of claim 3, wherein the first element further comprisesa first mounting extension, and wherein the first mounting extensiondefines a substantially arcuate shape for conforming to a posterior ofthe hand.
 18. The athletic training device of claim 3, wherein thesecond element further comprises a second mounting extension, andwherein the second mounting extension defines a substantially arcuateshape for conforming to a posterior of the forearm.
 19. The athletictraining device of claim 3, wherein the planar connection furthercomprises a low-friction separator between the first linking extensionand the second linking extension.
 20. A training method comprising:identifying an athletic activity involving relative motion between ahand and a forearm in a plurality of degrees; identifying at least oneof the plurality of degrees as associated with a risk of injury;providing a device having a hand element connected to a forearm element;mounting the hand element to the hand; and mounting the forearm elementto the forearm, wherein the device is adapted to substantially preventrelative motion of the hand and the wrist in the at least one of theplurality of degrees.